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Old Pulteney distillery
Pulteney distillery is a malt whisky production and aging facility in the Pulteneytown area of Wick, Caithness, in the Highland area of Scotland. The distillery produces the Old Pulteney single malt whisky at a number of ages and has a visitor centre in Huddart Street.[1] HistoryThe Pulteney distillery was established in 1826[2] in the name of Sir William Pulteney (who died in 1805), and after whom Pulteneytown is named. The distillery was the most northerly on the Scottish mainland (the honour has been usurped by Wolfburn Distillery near Thurso) and was quite inaccessible, except by sea, when established. Barley was brought in by sea, and the whisky was shipped out the same way. Many of the distillery workers were also employed as fishermen. The herring fishing industry is no longer part of daily life in Wick but the distillery continues to operate, producing a Highland single malt with a reputation as one of the finest available. Characteristics of the whisky are attributed to exposure to sea air during maturation.[2] The distillery was sold to John Dewar & Sons in 1924. Dewars join Distillers Company (DLC) in 1925. The distillery closed in 1930 due to declining trade after the local parish enforced prohibition laws but re-opened in 1951 when the vote was rescinded after the law was abolished.[3] In 1954, Hiram Walker & Sons bought Pulteney and in 1961 sold it to Allied Breweries. In 1995, Allied sold Pulteney to Inver House Distillers.[4] In July 2023, the distillery released its oldest whisky to date, the 45-year-old "Old Pulteney Bow Wave".[5] ProductionThe Pulteney site uses water from an old mill lade,[6] constructed by Thomas Telford.[7] This stream flows out of Loch Hempriggs, 3 or 4 kilometres (2 miles) to the south/southwest, and is reputed to have powered a barley mill at or near the site of the distillery. Awards Old Pulteney 12 Years Old International Spirits Challenge 2021 - 94 Points San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 - Silver International Wine & Spirits Competition 2019 - Gold - 95pts International Spirits Challenge 2019 - Silver Whisky Masters 2019 - Gold International Wine and Spirit Competition 2018 - Silver Outstanding International Spirits Challenge 2018 - Silver Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2018 - 91 points International Spirits Challenge 2017 – Silver International Wine and Spirit Competition 2017 - Silver Outstanding International Spirits Challenge 2016 - Silver International Wine and Spirit Competition 2016 - Silver Outstanding Old Pulteney Huddart San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 - Silver International Spirits Competition 2019 - Silver World Whiskies Awards 2019 - Silver Old Pulteney 15 Years Old San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 – Silver International Spirits Challenge 2019 – Gold Whisky Masters 2019 - Gold Old Pulteney 18 Years Old San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 - Gold International Spirits Competition 2019 – Silver Whisky Masters 2019 - Gold Old Pulteney 25 Years Old San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020 - Double Gold International Spirits Challenge 2019 - Gold International Spirits Challenge 2018 - Gold International Wine and Spirit Competition – Gold Traveller’s Exclusive Old Pulteney 16 Years Old International Spirits Challenge 2019 - Silver Past awards in their collection include: International Wine & Spirits Challenge 2018 Old Pulteney 2006 Ex-Bourbon - Silver Outstanding International Wine and Spirit Competition 2017 Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver International Spirits Challenge 2017 [8] Old Pulteney 35 Years Old 2nd Release – Silver Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2017 [9] Old Pulteney 21 Years Old - 94 points, finalist Old Pulteney Navigator - 92 points Old Pulteney Clipper - 91 points IWSC 2016 [10] Old Pulteney 21 Years Old – Gold Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver Outstanding Old Pulteney Noss Head – Silver Outstanding Old Pulteney Navigator – Silver Old Pulteney Duncansby Head - Silver International Spirits Challenge 2016 [11] Old Pulteney 21 Years Old – Gold Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver Old Pulteney Duncansby Head – Silver Old Pulteney 35 Years Old 1st Release – Silver Old Pulteney Dunnet Head - Silver Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2016 [12] Old Pulteney Navigator – 92 points Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – 89 points World Whiskies Awards 2016 Old Pulteney 1989 - Worlds Best Single Malt [13] Old Pulteney 17 Years Old – Silver San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2016[14] Old Pulteney Navigator - Silver Berlin World Spirits Competition 2016 [15] Old Pulteney – Highland Scotch Distillery of the Year Old Pulteney Navigator - Silver References
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